Two artists |Araya x Inojin/Shikajin|

14

Inojin slowly entered the Nara's house, ready for Temari's anger. He wasn't allowed to leave this place, but it was impossible for him to stay there. It could end badly. Despite that, he really wanted to see Araya for the last time in the Sunagakure. He knew very well that he most likely won't visit that village in the nearest future. Did he regret what he did? No. Was he afraid of his friend's mother? Of course, yes.
He went to the living room and looked around. He didn't spot her anywhere. Instead of that, he heard his friend's voice, which scared him at first. He thought it was somebody else, but when he realized it was Shikadai, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Where have you been?" Shikadai asked immediately after seeing the blond boy, who rolled his eyes and sat on the couch.

"Well, If you have to know..." He crossed his legs, looking at the other with a smirk. "I visited Araya. I don't know when I'll get next opportunity to see him, so I decided to do it today," he explained, proudly watching his reactions. He seemed to be upset about that fact.

"You're lucky that my mum believed me that you went to bed. She didn't want to bother you, so she handed mi the medicines. You should take it," he said and gave him it without glancing at him. "Go to bed... I mean, if you want to..."

"You're trying to be nice, huh?" Inojin raised his eyebrow. "Actually, I don't want to. Where's Auntie Temari? She isn't at home, is she?" He lazily looked up to see Nara's face.

"No," he replied simply. "My mum went to see my uncles before we left. She hardly ever sees them," he added and finally decided to look at the blond. "Can we talk?" he asked nervously.

"Talk? We're talking at this moment," he answered ironically. "What else do you want to say?" He glanced at him seemingly bored. He even pretended to yawn.

"I want to apologize to you." He knelt in front of him and bowed. "I'm really sorry. Please, forgive me."

Inojin looked at him surprised. He didn't know how to react on it. After a while he decided to speak again. "Do you think some apologizes will be enough to fix it? You literally ruined my trust in you," he said sadly. "What is more... You almost ruined me."

Shikadai slowly raised his head up to see other's face.

"I know... I will never do that again. Let's start from the beginning," he suggested.

Inojin has almost forgiven him, but he won't be able to forget about that. In fact, he didn't want to lose his dear friend. He wanted to be right next to him. They are Ino-Shika-Cho. They live and die together. There is no way that they could be separated. Nothing can break them.

"Fine," he answered and knelt next to him. He reached out his hand. "I'll introduce myself then... Yamanaka Inojin. I'm not a kind of person you should worry about. I'm strong, independent and self-confident person." He smiled, closing his eyes. "Let's become friends."

Shikadai slightly raised corners of his mouth, watching the other. He loved that smile. He could look at it all the time. It was so vulnerable. He wanted to protect it at all costs. No, he didn't need to. That boy didn't need any protection. He was right. Inojin is strong. He always was. Shikadai just forgot about that fact. He realized that the way he was treating Yamanaka was horrible. He must change it. He can't make that mistake again.

But being just friends wasn't enough for him. He wanted more.

Shikadai grabbed Inojin's hand. "Nara Shikadai. Nice to meet you," he said, making the other chuckle.

"Good. Let's forget about everything what happened here between us. We have to move on." The blond one stood up and led to the bedroom. "We should rest to recover. My mum will be furious if she finds out I have a fever."